Grave digging machine



Oct. 22, 1963 H. o. cRUM Erm. 3,107,444

GRAVE DIGGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l L MMD NMM NQk Il-.3 U, Rr 1 @Hw V B s \J ml rw s fmv 1 l l l l ll I \w% Nw Nh ww IQWN:

Oct. 22, 1963 H. o. CRUM ETAL 3,107,444

GRAVE DIGGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l www@ Oct.22, 1963 H. o. cRUM l-:rAL

GRAVE DIGGING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 16, 1962 /NVENTORSHAR/2v O. CRU/w B EVE/enr 6 RAND/:LL www Arm/v Oct. 22, 1963 H. o. cRUMErm. 3,107,444

GRAVE DIGGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 165,v 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4r4.//vl/EA/Toxs www 0 Cpu/v E VERETT G. RANDALL United States Patent O3,107,444 GRAVE DIGGING MACHINE Harry O. Crum and Everett G. Randall,Woodward, Iowa,

assignors of one-tenth to Vernon E. Axmear, Woodward, Iowa Filed Jau.16, 1962, Ser. No. 166,553 11 Claims. (Cl. 37-S0) Our invention relatesto a grave digging machine that is particularly adaptable for operatingin confined spaces among tombstones and the like in cemeteries.

A principal object of our invention is to provide a grave diggingmachine that can be easily positioned and leveled over the area wherethe grave is to be dug.

A further object of our invention is to provide a grave digging machinethat can easily open a rectangular opening in the earth without havingto remove excess earth adjacent the desired opening. h

A still further object of our invention is to provide a grave diggingmachine that can easily be controlled to dig openings in the earth ofvarying sizes.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a grave diggingmachine that can create an opening in the earth with substantiallyvertical sides and with a substantially level bottom. I

A still further object of our invention is to provide a grave diggingmachine that can easily be moved from place to place.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a grave diggingmachine that is economical of manufacture, durable in use, and reiinedin appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Our invention consists in the construction, arrangement, andcombination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,specifically pointed out in our claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of our device after it has been mounted in a levelcondition over the area where a grave is to be dug;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of our device;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional View of our device taken on line 3-3 ofFIG. l;

FIG. 4 is an end view of our device as it is positioned in FIGS. l and2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of our device taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of our device showing the drivemechanism whereby the digging unit is moved from one end of our unit tothe other;

FIG. 7 is a plan View of the outer frame of our device mounted ondetachable wheel units;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of one of the detachable wheels ofour device; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view of one of the detachable wheels l of our device.

We have used the numeral 10 to generally designate an outer rectangularframe comprised of two parallel side channels 12 which are welded bytheir ends to two parallel end channels 14. Vertical sleeves 16 arewelded or otherwise secured to the four corners of frame 10. As shown inFIGS. S and 9, wheel units 18 are comprised of a horizontal shaft 20with a conventional wheel 22 rotatably secured to one end thereof. Avertical stud shaft 24 is welded or otherwise secured to the center ofshaft 20 and extends upwardly to be detachably received within one ofthe vertical sleeves 16 on the corners of frame 10. A pair of flanges 26extend outwardly from frame 10 adjacent each corner thereof. A nut andbolt assembly 28 is adapted to extend through registering apertures inone of the flanges 26 and one end of horizontal shaft 20 to rigidlysecure the wheel unit 18 to frame 10. As shown in FIG. 9, the positionof wheel unit 18 can be changed 90 4degrees by rotating stud shaft 24within sleeve 16 so that the horizontal shaft 20 can be detachablysecured to the other ange 26.

In FIGS. l, 2, and 4, frame 1t) is shown to be supported on supportingelements 30. Supporting elements 30 are comprised of horizontal metalplates 32 with a ring 34 welded or otherwise secured to the upper centerportion thereof. A vertical post 36 has its lower end detachablypositioned within ring 34 and extending upwardly through one of thevertical sleeves 16 on frame 10. Pin 38 extends through one of severalhorizontal apertures 40 in post 36 and the frame 10 is thereuponsupported by virtue of the sleeve 16 resting directly on the pins 38.The frame 10 can be raised or lowered to a level position in spite ofterrain variations by selecting an appropriate aperture 4i) in thevertical post 36 in which pin 38 can support a given corner of theframe.

An inner rectangular frame 42 is comprised of side channels 44 which arewelded by their ends to two parallel end channels 46. Frame 42 has alength and width which are both less than the length and width of frame10. Frame 42 is pivotally secured within frame 10 by pins 48 whichpivotally connect one end of frame 42 With the side channel 12 at apoint justadjacent one of the end channels i4. Frames 10 and 42 willhereafter be referred to as being pivotally connected at their rearwardends.

An end frame 50 is mounted on the forward end of frame 10. End frame 50is comprised of vertical posts 52 with a top horizontal cross member 54welded to and connecting the upper ends of the vertical posts. Diagonalbraces 56 extend between and connect opposite ends of the posts 52. Thelower ends of posts 52 are split to movably receive ears 58 which arewelded or otherwise secured to the channel 14 on the forward end offrame 10. Pins 60 extend through registering holes in the ears 58 andthe lower ends of posts 52 to etfect the pivotal connection between theend frame 50 and the rectangular frame 10.

A sleeve 62 slidably embraces each of the vertical posts 52 on end frame50. A depending ear 64 extends away from each of the sleeves 62 and isreceived between pairs of ears 66 which are welded or otherwise securedto the forward end of inner frame 42. Pins 68 extend through registeringapertures in ears 64 and pairs of ears y66 to pivotally connect thesleeve 62 to the frame 42. This connection also effects the pivotalconnection between the inner frame 42 and the end frame 50.

A shaft 70 extends in spaced relation over the top of cross member 54 onend frame 50 and has one of its ends supported in bearing element 72.The other end of shaft 70 is rotatably supported within gear box 74whereupon the shaft can be rotated about its longitudinal axis by themanual operation of crank 76.I Cables 78 have one of their ends rigidlysecured to the shaft 70 in any convenient manner and the lower ends ofthese cables are secured to hook elements 80 which are secured in anyconvenient fashion to the forward end of the inner frame 42. Frame 82 isslidably mounted upon the inner frame 42. Frame 82 is comprised ofparallel channels 84 which extend transversely across frame 42. The endsof channels 84 are welded to the inverted L-shaped plates 86. Thehorizontal flange portions 88 of the inverted L-shaped plates 86 rest onand slidably engage the upper surface of the side channels 44 of theinner frame 42.

A drive sha-ft 90 extends laterally across the rear end of frame 82 andhas its ends rotatably secured in bearing elements 92 which in tur-n arerigidly secured in any convenient manner to the upper end portions ofthe rearmost channel 84. Cables 94 have one of their ends rigidlysecured to the extreme ends of drive shaft 90. Several configurations ofcables 94 extend around the ends of drive shaft 90 before each of thecables extend rearwardly whereupon they are rigidly secured to hookelements 96 which in turn are rigidly mounted in any convenient manneron the rearward end of inner frame 42. Similarly, one end of cable 98 isrigidly secured to the ends of drive shaft 90. Cables 9S extend aroundthe ends of drive shaft 90 several times before extending forwardlywhereupon they are rigidly secured to hook elements 100 which are inturn rigidly secured to the forward end of inner frame 42. A bracket 102is welded or otherwise secured to one side of frame 82 and extendsoutwardly therefrom. Gear and clutch mechanism 104 is rigidly secured inany convenient manner to the bracket 102. One end of drive shaft 90terminates within the gear and clutch mechanism 104 and is operativelysecured thereto in conventional fashion. An electric motor 106 4ismounted on top of the gear and clutch mechanism 104 and is adapted toprovide operational power to the gear and clutch mechanism as Well asthe drive shaft 90.

An auxiliary frame 108 is mounted on frame 82 for lateral movementtherewith. Auxiliary frame 108 is comprised of four flat bars 110 whichare arranged in the shape of a rectangle and welded or otherwise securedtogether in that position. The forward and rearward bars 110 are adaptedto be slidably supported on top of the parallel channels 84 of frame 82.Vertical angles 112 can be welded by their upper ends to the innercorners of frame 108 to stabilize the sliding movement of the auxiliaryframe with respect to the frame 82. A screw rod 114 extends acrossauxiliary frame 108 in a lateral direction and is rotatably secured byits ends within bearing elements 116 which are rigidly secured in anyconvenient fashion to the opposite sides of frame 82. A crank 117 on oneend of screw rod 114 enables the screw rod to be rotatably moved Withinthe bearing elements 116. Screw rod 114 also extends through suitablethreaded apertures in bearings 118 which are rigidly secured in anyconvenient fashion to auxiliary frame 108. The engagement of screw rod114 within the bearings 118 permits the auxiliary frame 108 to beslidably movable on frame 82 whenever crank 117 is actuated to rotatethe screw rod 114.

In FIG. 2, we have shown in dotted lines a power mechanism 120 securedin any convenient fashion to the auxiliary frame 108. Power mechanism120 provides operational power to an elongated conveyor means 122 and toa vertical digging mechanism 124 which are also supported on auxiliaryframe 108. We have not shown the details of the power mechanism, theconveyer means or the digging mechanism for the precise details thereofdo not constitute a part of our invention. The conveyer means 122 can beof any conventional structure and its function is merely to carry theexcavated dirt to a place adjacent the frame 10 away from the diggingarea. The digging mechanism 124 can be of the conventional elongatedditch digging type of bucket and chain construction, for example, and itis adapted to dig and retrieve the dirt and elevate it to a point wherethe dirt can be deposited on the conveyer means.

The normal operation of our device is as follows: The inner frame 42 isnormally held in the elevated position shown by the dotted lines in FIG.2 when our device is being moved from place to place. This is to permitthe digging mechanism 124 to clear the ground surface. The inner frame42 is held in this elevated position by the winch mechanism on top ofend frame 50 which is represented by shaft 70, bearing element 72, gearbox 74, crank 76, and the cables 78 which extend downwardly and aresecured to the inner frame 42. The sleeve 62 and related structurecomplete the connection of end frame 50 and the inner frame 42.

The frame 10 is normally supported on the wheel unit 18 when the deviceis being positioned preparatory to the digging operation. Because thedigging area is often conned by other tombstones and the like, it isoften desirable to change at least some of the wheels from the positionshown in the solid lines of FIG. 7 to the position shown by the dottedlines in this same figure. The position of the wheel units 18 is changedby removing the nut and -bolt assembly 28 from the flanges 26 and theends of the horizontal shaft 20 and rotating the horizontal shaftdegrees until the end thereof moves into a position underneath the otherflange 26 on a given corner of frame 10. The nut and bolt assembly 28are then reinstalled and the wheel unit 18 is then held in this adjustedposition. 'Ihe frame 10 then can be moved easily in a direction which isat right angles to the previous direction of travel. After the frame 19has been so positioned over the digging area, temporary blocks can thenbe placed underneath the frame 10 and the wheel units 18 can be removedtherefrom by releasing the nut and bolt assemblies 28 and allowing thewhe-el units to move downwardly out of their pivotal connection in thevertical sleeves 16. The vertical posts 36 of supporting elements 30 arethen inserted in each of the sleeves 16 and the frame 10 is then placedin a level condition in the manner described heretofore.

The frame 82 is normally positioned forwardly on inner frame 42 and theauxiliary frame 108 is normally positioned at one extreme end of frame82. After the frame 10 has been placed in a level condition onsupporting elements 30, the crank 76 on end frame 50 is then actuated tolower the inner frame 42 into a level condition within frame 10. Thisaction causes the inner frame 42 and the end frame 50 to move from theposition shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2 to the position shown bythe solid lines in that same figure. The digging mechanism is thenactuated by the power mechanism y as the frame 42 is being lowered sothat the digging mechanism. will dig itself into the ground as the frame42 assumes its horizontal position. The electric motor 106 is thenactuated as is the gear and clutch mechanism 104 to actuate the driveshaft 90. The rotation of drive shaft 90 in one direction will cause theshaft to wind up cables 94 and to unwind cables 98. This causes theframe 82 to slide in a rearward direction on top of the inner frame 42.With the auxiliary frame 108 positioned on one end of the frame 82 thedigging mechanism 124 thereupon digs an opening in the earth:substantially the width of the auxiliary frame 108 and substantiallythe length of the inner frame 42. After this initial cut has takenplace, the direction of rotation of drive shaft 90 is reversed by meansof gear and clutch mechanism 104 whereupon the frame 82 is returned toits forward position on the forward end of frame 42. The crank 76 on thetop of end frame 50 is then actuated to elevate frame 42 back toitsinitial position with respect to the horizontal frame 10. While theinner frame 42 has once again been returned -to its elevated position,the crank 117 on the end of screw rod 114 is then actuated to causeauxiliary frame 108 to slide laterally towards the center of frame 82.Auxiliary frame 108 is moved a sufeient distance towards the center offrame 82 that the digging mechanism 124 assumes a position adjacent theopening that has already been cut. The frame 42 is once again lowered inthe manner described so that the digging mechanism will bury itselfagain. Gear and clutch mechanism 104 is then actuated to cause frame 82to slide rearwardly on frame 42 and a second cut is thereupon madeadjacent the first eut that was made. This operation is then repeated athird time so that a third cut can be made and three cuts normallycreate a grave opening of satisfactory width. Sometimes an auxiliarydigging mechanism is secured to the lower end of digging mechanism `124after `the three cuts have been made and three additional cuts are madeto increase fthe depth of the grave. This, however, does not constitutea part of our invention.

From the foregoing, it is seen that we have provided a grave diggingmachine that can be easily positioned and leveled on the digging area.it has further been shown that we have provided means whereby thedigging mechanism can easily be inserted into the ground, moved to thecutting area, `and then returned to its initial position to permit anadditional cut to be made. From the foregoing, it is seen that ourdevice Lwill accomplish at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of ourgrave digging machine without departing from the real spirit and purposeof our invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claims, anymodilied forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which maybe reasonably included within their scope.

We claim:

1. In a grave digging machine,

a lower rectangular `frame lnormally disposed in a horizontal position,

support means on said frame for supporting said frame on a groundsurface,

a second rectangular frame pivotally secured by one ot its ends :to oneend of said lower frame,

an end frame pivotally secured by its lower end to the end of said lowerframe at the end thereof opposite to the point of pivotal connectionbetween said lower frame and said second frame,

said end frame being normally disposed in a substantially verticalposition,

means movably connecting said end frame and said second frame wherebyone end of said second frame can be eleva-ted at times with respect tosaid lower frame, an earth digging mechanism movably secured on saidsecond frame and extending downwardly therefrom,

and means on said second frame for moving said earth digging mechanismlongitudinally on said second frame in a direction either towards oraway from said end frame.

2. Ina grave digging machine,

a lower rectangular frame normally disposed in a horizontal position,

support means on said frame for supporting said frame on a groundsurface,

a second rectangular frame pivotally secured by one of its ends to oneend of said lower frame,

an end frame pivotally secured by its lower end to the end of said lowerframe at the end thereof opposite to the point of pivotal connectionbetween said lower frame and said second frame,

said end frame being normally disposed in a substantially verticalposition,

ond frame whereby one end of said second frame can be elevated at timeswith respect to said lower frame,

an e-arth digging mechanism extending downwardly from said second frame,

a frame means on said second frame connecting said digging mechanismthereto,

and means on said second frame for moving said frame meanslongitudinally thereon in a direction either towards or away from saidend frame.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the means movably connecting saidend frame and said second frame includes means pivotally and slidablyconnecting said end frame and said second frame.

4. The structure of claim 2 wherein said support means is adjustably anddetachably secured to said lower frame.

5. In a grave digging machine,

a lower rectangular frame having forward and rearward ends and normallybeing disposed in a horizontal position,

support means on said lower frame for supporting said lframe on a groundsurface,

a second rectangular `frame,

means pivotally securing the rearward ends of said lower frame andsecond fra-me together,

an end `frame normally ldisposed in a substantially vertical positionand pivotally secured by its lower end to `the forward end of said lower`frame,

sleeve means slidably mounted for vertical movement on said end fname,

means pivotally connecting said sleeve means to the forward end of saidsecond trame,

a winch mechanism on said end frame operatively connected to saidsecondframe for pivoting said second frame with respect to said lower frame attimes, l

an earth digging mechanism movably secured to and extending downwardlyfrom said second frame,

and means on said second frame for moving said earth digging mechanismlongitudinally on said second frame in a direction either towards oraway from said end frame.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein frame means movably connects saiddigging mechanism and said second fra-me, and means on said second`frame for moving said frame means laterally, forwardly or rearwardly onsaid second frame.

7. The structure yof claim 5 wherein said support means includes wheelelements adjustably removably secured to said lower frame.

8. The structure of claim 5 wherein said support means includes meansfor leveling said lower frame on a ground surface.

9. The structure of claim ,1 wherein said second frame includes parallelside members, and `a laterally extending frame is movably supported byand extends between said side members; said earth digging mechanismbeing secured to said laterally extending frame.

10. The structure of claim l wherein said second lframe includesparallel side members, and a laterally extending frame is movablysupported by and extends between said side members; said earth diggingmechanism being movably secured to said laterally extending frame andbeing adapted for movement thereon in a lateral direction with respectto said seco-nd frame. f

ll. The structure of lclaim 2 wherein .means is secured to said framemeans for moving said digging mechanism thereon in a lateral ydirectionWith respect to said second `frame.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN A GRAVE DIGGING MACHINE, A LOWER RECTANGULAR FRAME NORMALLY DISPOSED IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION, SUPPORT MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR SUPPORTING SAID FRAME ON A GROUND SURFACE, A SECOND RECTANGULAR FRAME PIVOTALLY SECURED BY ONE OF ITS ENDS TO ONE END OF SAID LOWER FRAME, AN END FRAME PIVOTALLY SECURED BY ITS LOWER END TO THE END OF SAID LOWER FRAME AT THE END THEREOF OPPOSITE TO THE POINT OF PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID LOWER FRAME AND SAID SECOND FRAME, SAID END FRAME BEING NORMALLY DISPOSED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION, MEANS MOVABLY CONNECTING SAID END FRAME AND SAID SECOND FRAME WHEREBY ONE END OF SAID SECOND FRAME 